MUL 2010 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Major Scale, Key Signature, The Technique

• School: SCFMS, SCF
• Department: Music Literature
• Course: MUL 2010
• Professor: Rex Willis

Document Summary

One of the fundamental characteristics of western music is its reliance on tonality. Tonal music is characterized by the presence of the tonic, the central note. The tonic chord acts as the musical center of gravity. The key refers to the central note, scale, and chord. Scale - melodies are usually based on the notes in a particular scale. When 2 adjacent white keys have a black key between, they"re one step apart. The distance between any note and the next is a half step. Minor scale - resembles the major scale, but has a # of lowered notes. When a note is lowered, it is played on the black key left of the white one, this lowering its pitch by one half step. Can sound a bit sadder, but is not always the case. Symbols - when we notate, or write, music, we use different signs to indicate different things.